Diphtheria
What is it?
Diphtheria is a serious, highly contagious disease. It is caused by bacteria that can produce a toxin. Diphtheria is spread through respiratory droplets from sneezes and coughs. It can also spread by touching contaminated objects. Even if an infected person doesn’t have any symptoms, they can infect others for up to four weeks.
There are two kinds of diphtheria: respiratory and skin (cutaneous). Skin diphtheria infections rarely cause serious disease. However, people infected with skin diphtheria can spread the disease to others, resulting in respiratory diphtheria. Respiratory diphtheria can be severe. Thankfully, there’s a vaccine to protect against diphtheria.
Why is the vaccine important?
Respiratory diphtheria most commonly infects the lungs and throat. It causes a thick covering in the back of the throat and nose, making it hard to breathe and swallow. It can lead to nerve damage (paralysis), heart failure, kidney damage, and even death.
Crowded environments, poor hygiene, and lack of immunization are all risk factors for diphtheria.
Respiratory diphtheria is very rare in the U.S. and Europe because of widespread immunization. Even with treatment, however, 1 in 10 people who contract respiratory diphtheria die. Without treatment, up to half die. As many as 1 out of 5 children younger than 5 years old who get diphtheria die.
Progress
Before the diphtheria vaccine, there were about 100,000 to 200,000 cases of diphtheria each year in the U.S. The vaccine has been so successful that there have been no cases of respiratory diphtheria in the U.S. since 2003. However, there are still outbreaks of respiratory diphtheria in other parts of the world. These include Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar), Haiti, Indonesia, South Africa, Ukraine, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Yemen. If we stopped vaccinating in the U.S., we would open the door to outbreaks. The disease is only a plane ride away.
Vaccine Recommendations
The DTaP and Tdap vaccines prevent three diseases with one shot: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). The vaccines are recommended for different groups based on age and health condition:
Children
- Children should get 5 total doses of DTaP vaccine, 1 dose at each of the following ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 – 18 months, and 4 – 6 years.
teens
- Teens should receive 1 dose of Tdap vaccine at age 11 or 12 years.
Pregnant People
- Pregnant people should receive 1 dose of Tdap vaccine with each pregnancy at 27 – 36 weeks. This allows the person to pass disease-fighting antibodies on to their baby to protect them after birth.
Adults
- Adults who have never received a dose of Tdap should receive one. Adults should receive 1 booster dose of Tdap every 10 years.
Make sure those in close contact with your infant are current with Tdap vaccination. This helps shield or "cocoon" newborns from whooping cough.
Side Effects
Vaccines, like any medicine, can cause side effects (also known as "adverse reactions"). Most side effects are mild and go away within a few days. Common side effects include fever, headache, or body aches. They can also include redness where the shot was given and tiredness. Side effects are normal. They can even be a good sign that the immune system is working to build antibodies that will fight off future infections!
For the DTaP vaccine, side effects may also include loss of appetite and vomiting. More serious reactions like seizures, high fever (over 105°), and non-stop crying are also possible, but these are uncommon. Swelling of the entire limb in which the vaccine was given is also a rare side effect. If this occurs, it is usually after the 4th or 5th dose.
For the Tdap vaccine nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomachache may also occur.
Remember, vaccines are continuously studied. They are also closely monitored for safety. Research continues to show that vaccines are safe, and the benefits outweigh the risks. The risk of a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine is rare (about 1 in 1 million). The choice not to vaccinate is ultimately more risky. Not vaccinating may lead to catching a potentially deadly disease.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about vaccine side effects. In the event of a serious allergic reaction, call 9-1-1.
